Snow White Re-release Platinum Discussion & Cover Art Th

[Marky_198]

Technology always advances. They now have the ability to scan the film in 4K, which I don't think they could back then. Thus the film will look better, and in a much higher quality. They probably don't even have a hD master ready, so the restoration has to be done again.
Oh, and by the way, Disney restores their classics to make them look like they were made yesterday. They want them to seem contemporary.

That sounds great, I hope they start with the original material again and leave it like that.

But I think the Disney Classics already look contemporary.
And in my opinion "contemporary" means "all times".
So also 1930 till now, and the new look of the films limits itself to 2009 and up.

[yukitora]

^you probably havent figured out how to yet because you hate DVDs so much. I don't even own the DVD and I know how to. (SET UP>LANGUAGES>pick one of the original theatrical edition settings)

[Marky_198]

What I'm saying is, the average Joe just puts in the dvd and watches it.
And doesn't know that if you go to "set up" first, and then choose a certain different version, that that's actually the film (well, partially then, but that's a different story) you're expecting to see.

[Goliath]

Yeah, I guess. At least their animation would've been sophisticated for the time Nowadays, though, the funeral scene would look almost comical. The two characters you mentioned do have some subtlety, at least. I honestly don't get the same effect, watching the movie, as those who grew up with it.

Well, I take that into account, of course. I judge the film by keeping in mind what animators were able to do in the time the film was made. Frank Thomas has said (and Michael Barrier confirms this in his book) that entire audiences were weeping when they watched the funeral scene. So it really touched people, and it certainly wasn't a gimmick movie, ike Escapay said.

[ajmrowland]

What I'm saying is, the average Joe just puts in the dvd and watches it.
And doesn't know that if you go to "set up" first, and then choose a certain different version, that that's actually the film (well, partially then, but that's a different story) you're expecting to see.

I've actually seen some netflix members think that some 3D movies are shipped 3D version only when I found that the setup menu has a selection for the 2D version. So yeah, I back you up on that one.

Well, I take that into account, of course. I judge the film by keeping in mind what animators were able to do in the time the film was made. Frank Thomas has said (and Michael Barrier confirms this in his book) that entire audiences were weeping when they watched the funeral scene. So it really touched people, and it certainly wasn't a gimmick movie, ike Escapay said.

Yep, the one fact I remember from the commentary.

[Chernabog_Rocks]

I actually agree with Escapay on various points he made. The one thing I agree with 100% is how people shouldn't like this movie just because it's the one that started it all.

Also, I can see what he means by a gimmicky movie. Back then this was a huge thing it drew audiences in. It was known as Walts Folly, and was probably seen as a gimmick at first just a way to get peoples attention on his companies shorts (which weren't bringing in enough money if I recall) but then they genuinely liked it and saw it as more than that. Just my opinion on what could have happened of course.

While the movie is big on visuals it does lack likability in the characters. The Prince for all we know is just a random stranger, why does he like Snow White? Where does he come from, what's his name and why does it look like he's wearing lip gloss? All questions that aren't fully answered. He assumedly likes Snow White because of her looks and/or voice, but what about personality? I'll admit I haven't seen the movie in ages and the I'm Wishing/One Song probably answers why he likes her.

The dwarfs are all right but it's rather half done for personalities. Oh lets make Happy the jolly dwarf and Dopey will be silly and kind of goofy and Grumpy will be grumpy. Out of all the dwarfs Grumpy probably evolves the most, at first he's just a grumpy person but he's also shown to care for the Shrill near the end.

Heigh-Ho is probably the only memorable song for me even if it is repetitive, though that may be the reason I remember it. The rest of the songs I barely remember or don't care for too much (The Silly Song).

[lighthousemike]

Rather than quote everything you said, Disney Duster, I'll just say you've got your likes/dislikes, and I've got mine. Plus, I'm still weak from my fever so I can't really say much else anyway. Although I have to ask, what exactly made you decide to suddenly reply to something I said like, four months ago?

Escapay, trashing Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs is the single most stupid thing you could ever do on a forum where Disney animation fans come together. It shows a profound lack of both knowledge of and appreciation for animated movies.

Yes, god forbid I actually have an opinion instead of sharing the herd mentality.

My knowledge, love, and appreciation (or anyone's for that matter) for Disney animation should not hinge upon some undying love and loyalty to "the one that started it all". Good god, what's next, shunning of the live-action features simply because not many of the Disney animation fans are remotely aware of them?

What did Escapay say???

Click Here, but I'll just quote the SW part. I've also bolded a part that Goliath himself should read...

From this old March 2007 post (I've since warmed up to Cinderella so disregard the part about it being one of the worst)...

What's ironic is that when I was younger, I really loved parts of the film, mainly because I was brought up on the first two Sing-Along Songs VHS tapes: Heigh-Ho, which included that and "The Silly Song" among its other musical offerings, and Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah, which included "Whistle While You Work". Those sequences entranced me as a kid and I longed to actually see the film. Of course, since its last theatrical outing was 1987, and I didn't see my first theatrical film until 1992 (Aladdin, which is and always will be my #1 favorite Disney film), our family had to wait for the 1994 VHS to come out for us to rent (and for us to illegally record it to a blank tape...yeah, bad Escapay!).

Anyway, come 1994, I had finally seen Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs in full. And I was not as impressed as I hoped I'd be. Mainly the voice. It was always the voice that got to me. I had always read that Walt wanted a child's voice, someone that sounded young. He passed up on Deanna Durbin because her voice was too deep, too mature. And who'd he pick? A shrilly high-pitched breaks-glass one-octave-too-high-only-dogs-should-be-able-to-hear-it Adriana Caselotti. Big mistake. It turns what could have been at least a tolerable character into a downright annoying one. I didn't care at all for her at all, I hated how perky and happy she looked cleaning the castle steps or cleaning the house. I hated that she was so Stepford Wife-ish to the dwarfs, practically treating them as her children. I hated that she survived the trip through the enchanted forest (which is quite an impressive sequence in itself). All in all, I hated her character through and through and she was one of the biggest reasons why I rarely watch the film.

I think, though, that the main reason this film is my second least favorite after the tripe known as The Lion King, is because it's been built up by plenty of people over the years as this awesome and wonderful fairy tale that will melt your heart and make you fall in love with Disney. But...it's not. It's simply the first film from Disney, and it made an impact 70 years ago, but that impact seems to have diminished in later years. Nowadays people only know the film by the barrage of Princess merchandise or by one song. It aged gracefully, but still doesn't quite shine as good as it used to. And it's fairly mediocre compared to the films that followed it. Pinocchio and Fantasia are such grand and epic films that when you size Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs up to it, it pales greatly.

It's just that...well, the film is best known as the first, the "one that started it all". But beyond a couple good songs and the incomparable dwarfs, there's not much else I feel it has going for it. And it's just...dull. If I ever do sit to watch the film, I know I'll simply skip to a few chapters and call it a day. I just could never sit through it all in one sitting without shifting around or glancing at my watch.

I still agree with much of what I wrote. It's not a film that I can ever really enjoy when I watch, mainly because I've got such a disdain for the Shrill (be it her voice, her personality, her attitude, etc). And there's really not much that I can enjoy if like 70% of the film is focused on her (and the other 30% is about characters whose actions are based around her). The film focuses too much on grabbing the audience through visuals and enjoyable moments that it results in the story being so mind-numbingly plain and the characters becoming nothing but caricatures of what could have been interesting and believable people. It's a gimmick movie. And amazingly, a lot of people fell for it.

I'm not going to attempt to "like it more" just because it is important in Disney history. That's a bullsh!t excuse and one that I refuse to follow. Hell, I don't like Citizen Kane either and that's easily one of the most important films in cinema history.

I'm grateful for the opportunities the film gave to Disney, and I respect the work that it took to make it, as well as its highly-regarded position in the Disney Company. But no matter how much respect or gratitude I can heap it, it still doesn't change the fact that I simply do not like the film as a whole, and that there are too many things I dislike than there are things I like. I can be critical of it, I can make fun of it, and I can trash it as much as I want because in the end, it's only (and always) a matter of opinion.

I don't feel bad about my opinions about the Shrill, even if they can be hurtful towards people who think that the Shrill is the sun and the moon, or who were deeply affected by watching it. After all, to Jane Doe Thornton who loves the film, what I think of it is bollocks to her anyway. Just as what she thinks of The Rocketeer is bollocks to me. If you love a film enough, you can take all the criticisms other people have in stride.

Perhaps the only complaint I have about Shrill-bashing is from people who do it simply because of the film's importance, or because of its tie-in to merch lines. And these bashers never offer any real reason why they dislike it, instead they just throw out empty insults that don't meean much. It's one thing to be critical about the film, it's another to blindly and emptily hate it for the sake of hating something.

albert

You know what Albert, Ive always liked you and yr posts, and I'm with you on Snow White - as many times as i try to watch it its just not IT for me.

I must say this though, After watching a my all time leas favorite Disney movie Pinocchio, in HD for the first time via its new BD - i now LOVE t. Something about the way it looks and sounds makes me NOT fall asleep 5 minutes into it, maybe its the awe effect i seem to have every second but i LOVED it.

So as i watch my money keep on going away for Disney movies i already own and keep on re buying, i WILL buy Snow White PE on bluray and we'll see what happens then.

Storyline, i think it was done at a time when Movies were still new, feature animation was brand new and it was all about a fantasy, and more time was invested in the technical aspect of making it rather on the actual story, so i think its ok not to like it, rather to appreciate it for being the one who started something we so much enjoy decodes later.

[ajmrowland]

I actually agree with Escapay on various points he made. The one thing I agree with 100% is how people shouldn't like this movie just because it's the one that started it all.

Also, I can see what he means by a gimmicky movie. Back then this was a huge thing it drew audiences in. It was known as Walts Folly, and was probably seen as a gimmick at first just a way to get peoples attention on his companies shorts (which weren't bringing in enough money if I recall) but then they genuinely liked it and saw it as more than that. Just my opinion on what could have happened of course.

Yeah, I see where you're coming from. "Gimmick" views on movies are a dime a dozen. Hardly worth a cent. In some cases, they have good reason to be that way, but a good movie's a good movie, nonetheless.

While the movie is big on visuals it does lack likability in the characters. The Prince for all we know is just a random stranger, why does he like Snow White? Where does he come from, what's his name and why does it look like he's wearing lip gloss? All questions that aren't fully answered. He assumedly likes Snow White because of her looks and/or voice, but what about personality? I'll admit I haven't seen the movie in ages and the I'm Wishing/One Song probably answers why he likes her.

I agree. However,the prince was quite hard and laborious to draw. That's the one thing most Disney(human) male heroes have in common. They kept trimming his role because of such difficulties.

The dwarfs are all right but it's rather half done for personalities. Oh lets make Happy the jolly dwarf and Dopey will be silly and kind of goofy and Grumpy will be grumpy. Out of all the dwarfs Grumpy probably evolves the most, at first he's just a grumpy person but he's also shown to care for the Shrill near the end.

Heigh-Ho is probably the only memorable song for me even if it is repetitive, though that may be the reason I remember it. The rest of the songs I barely remember or don't care for too much (The Silly Song).

Totally agreeable, but for the most part, the dwarves actually served their purpose for comic relief and providing Snow White a home.[/quote]

[Goliath]

Also, I can see what he means by a gimmicky movie. Back then this was a huge thing it drew audiences in. It was known as Walts Folly, and was probably seen as a gimmick at first just a way to get peoples attention on his companies shorts (which weren't bringing in enough money if I recall) but then they genuinely liked it and saw it as more than that.

Those are all valid points, but the film was not *made* as a 'gimmick movie'. Walt Disney didn't make it to get a lot of attention. Of course he wanted the film to be succesful, because otherwise he would lose money and may have to close his animation studio. Yet, if money was all he cared about, he would have stuck to making short cartoons. Mickey and Donald were very popular and doing well in the cartoons. Undertaking the enormous project of Snow White was a big risk, both financially and artistically. The crew worked years on mastering enough subtelty in the animation for it to be believable.

Of course none of this information is new to you, or to anybody on this forum, but I wanted to make clear Walt did not mean for the film to be a 'gimmick movie'. He wanted to tell a story and he wanted to do it in the most believable way possible.

While the movie is big on visuals it does lack likability in the characters. The Prince for all we know is just a random stranger, why does he like Snow White? Where does he come from, what's his name and why does it look like he's wearing lip gloss? All questions that aren't fully answered. He assumedly likes Snow White because of her looks and/or voice, but what about personality?

But this is true for all of Disney's Prince/Princess-relationships (save for Belle and the Beast). Why did Cinderella and Prince Charming fall for each other? Why did Aurora and Prince Philip fall in love? What made Ariel like Prince Erik the first time she laid eyes on him? It's all very superficial, if you think about it. But it's not the most important aspect of the film. The Prince is not very important.

Totally agreeable, but for the most part, the dwarves actually served their purpose for comic relief and providing Snow White a home.

I think the Dwarfs are much more than just comic relief. They let us know what kind of person Snow White is. We only get to know her through her interaction with the Dwarfs. Like, when Dopey keeps coming back for a kiss when theý go off to work, Snow White will play along the second time, showing us she is playful and willing to please those she cares about. However, she sends Dopey off without a third kiss when he tries again, showing us she also knows when playtime is over and she is in control of herself.

[Goliath]

Storyline, i think it was done at a time when Movies were still new, feature animation was brand new and it was all about a fantasy, and more time was invested in the technical aspect of making it rather on the actual story,

Er... feature animation was brand new, you got that right. But the motion pictures had been around for over 40 years, and narrative films for about 30 years.

[ajmrowland]

Chernabog_Rocks wrote:
While the movie is big on visuals it does lack likability in the characters. The Prince for all we know is just a random stranger, why does he like Snow White? Where does he come from, what's his name and why does it look like he's wearing lip gloss? All questions that aren't fully answered. He assumedly likes Snow White because of her looks and/or voice, but what about personality?

But this is true for all of Disney's Prince/Princess-relationships (save for Belle and the Beast). Why did Cinderella and Prince Charming fall for each other? Why did Aurora and Prince Philip fall in love? What made Ariel like Prince Erik the first time she laid eyes on him? It's all very superficial, if you think about it. But it's not the most important aspect of the film. The Prince is not very important.

Some people believe in love at first site. I do, even though the opposite viewpoint has a lot more grounds on which to stand. This is the formula that Disney followed, for the most part.

ajmrowland wrote:
Totally agreeable, but for the most part, the dwarves actually served their purpose for comic relief and providing Snow White a home.

I think the Dwarfs are much more than just comic relief. They let us know what kind of person Snow White is. We only get to know her through her interaction with the Dwarfs. Like, when Dopey keeps coming back for a kiss when theý go off to work, Snow White will play along the second time, showing us she is playful and willing to please those she cares about. However, she sends Dopey off without a third kiss when he tries again, showing us she also knows when playtime is over and she is in control of herself.

True. I totally forgot about that.

[Rudy Matt]

Snow White is a wonderful movie, and it is also a marvel of construction and economy. I'm still amazed at how skillfully the movie switches between horror, comedy, romance, terror, gried, joy -- so many modern animated films attempt this, and it feels forced (particularly the contrived attempts at comedy in several modern Disney films). Walt and his team labored and struggled with the story, but they achieved a complete "total" film, a film that touches almost all of the emotions, and it seems almost effortless.

Snow White wasn't a "gimmick" - if it were, it would have failed around the 15 minute mark. Snow White packed them in because its a great story told by a master storyteller. In the reviews of the period, if you look them up, you'll notice there's actually very little said about the technical aspects of the production. What most people responded to was the story, the comedy, and the music. Variety talked about the audience crying. Charlie Chaplin called the performance of Dopey the greatest cinematic comedic performance of all time.

So I'd back off on the idea that Snow White is some quaint curio nostalgia piece. There is much for modern audiences to enjoy, just as audiences of all ages have enjoyed the film, every decade over the last 70 years.

[Deco King]

Hear Hear Rudy!! At last someone who loves Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs as I do , and appreciates the excellent suspensful moments , such as the Poisoned Apple sequence , as the Witch/Peddler Woman coaxes Snow White to "Have A Bite" , and the frenzied birds and animals rush off to try and bring the Dwarfs back to rescue Snow White from the Witch/Queens evil clutches!

A great movie , masterful storytelling at it's best - if you don't like the movie go on to another thread!

[Chernabog_Rocks]

The Prince is not very important? I disagree, waking Snow White from her sleep was probably one of the most important parts in the film, without it there would be no happy ending and the only person who could do this was the Prince. He's important just not well developed or explored imo.

[carolinakid]

Preach it! Let's hear it for Snow White's Prince! A true unsung hero! I love when he lifts the dwarfs up so they can say goodbye (and get a kiss) from the Princess!

Jon

[Beast_enchantment]

Preach it! Let's hear it for Snow White's Prince! A true unsung hero! I love when he lifts the dwarfs up so they can say goodbye (and get a kiss) from the Princess!

Jon

I second that! Poor princey doesn't get enough credit. I mean, without him who would've picked up the dwarves

Plus, he had a good voice - when he got a chance to use it. I would've married him! but then again i'm easy, lol

And so what if he liked to wear lip gloss; each to their own, I say.

[CampbellzSoup]

uh the Average Joe isn't that stupid guys...maybe at first they just the inital movie as is, but after that they will fumble around in the set up options...heck they may even do that first!

I really think people have this misconception with average joe's and handicapped people...I really do the way that people talk about them on forums.

[yukitora]

Maybe Disney can consider a Snow White sequel from the Prince's point of view. Explaining what he did throughout his quest to find Snowygirl.

[gregmasciola]

Maybe Disney can consider a Snow White sequel from the Prince's point of view. Explaining what he did throughout his quest to find Snowygirl.

Don't give them any ideas!

[Goliath]

Snow White is a wonderful movie, and it is also a marvel of construction and economy. I'm still amazed at how skillfully the movie switches between horror, comedy, romance, terror, gried, joy -- so many modern animated films attempt this, and it feels forced (particularly the contrived attempts at comedy in several modern Disney films).

You're absolutely right, especially when you touch upon the comedy in more modern Disney films. I think the difference with the Walt-era films lie in the fact that, in modern films, characters are developed just to be funny, whereas in Walt's days, characters where developed because they contributed to the story, and only then they were given comedy. The comedy came from the characters, not the other way around.

The Prince is not very important? I disagree, waking Snow White from her sleep was probably one of the most important parts in the film, without it there would be no happy ending and the only person who could do this was the Prince. He's important just not well developed or explored imo.

Yes, that's true, but it's his only task. He's only there to wake her up at the end. In 99% of the film, he's not important, as he's not even present. The core of the film is the relation between Snow White and the Dwarfs. That's much more important than her relation to some vague prince-figure.

Maybe Disney can consider a Snow White sequel from the Prince's point of view. Explaining what he did throughout his quest to find Snowygirl.

Blasphemy!

if you don't like the movie go on to another thread!

That would be dull. I really wish Escapay would come back. I welcome discussion.